Ash tray



March 7, 1961 1.. E. DARST 2,973,879

ASH TRAY Filed Feb. 29, 1960 INVENTOR.

LLOYD E. DARST irromva x ASH TRAY Lloyd E. Darst, 330 6th Ave., SantaCruz, Calif.

Filed Feb, 29, 1960, Ser, No. 11,733 i 3 Claims. or 220-205 The presentinvention generally relates to an ash tray and more particularly to anash tray which will snuff out lighted cigarette butts inserted therein,thus providing a fireproof and odorless ash tray.

One of the major problems in ash tray construction is the frequency ofthe cigarette butts or similar articles already in an ash tray beingignited when a lighted butt is deposited into the tray which creates anextremely dangerous fire hazard and also produces unpleasant odors inthe surrounding area. Accordingly, it is the primary object of thepresent invention to overcome this problem by providing a receptacle forthe cigarette butts which is air tight for snufling out any lightedcigarette butts and preventing fire from occurring.

Another object of this invention is to provide an ash tray in accordancewith the preceding object in which novel means is provided formaintaining the receptacle in air tight condition, but yet permittingthe insertion of cigarette butts in a simple, easy and efiicient manner.

Still other objects and advantages will appear from the followingdescription of an exemplifying embodiment of this invention, from theappended claims and from the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the ash tray with portions broken awayfor illustrating the construction thereof; and

Figure 2 is a sectional view of the ash tray illustrating the same intilted position with a cigarette butt entering the receptacle.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the numeral 10 generallydesignates the ash tray of the present invention which includes agenerally cylindrical receptacle or container 12. The receptacle 12 isprovided with a cover 14 which is generally dome shaped and theperiphery thereof has a depending flange 16 telescopically engaged overthe open top end of the receptacle 12. The flange 16 is provided with apair of diametrically opposed bayonet slots 18 for receiving outwardlyextending pins or projections on the receptacle thereby detachablymounting the cover on the receptacle.

Mounted on the cover 14 is a shallow tray or funnel 20 having anupwardly curved peripheral edge 22. The funnel 20 is secured to thecover 14 in overlying relation by soldering or some equivalent fasteningmeans. A transverse strap 24 extends diametrically across the tray withthe ends thereof being secured to the edge 22 as by soldering or thelike. The strap 24 has a plurality of depressed generally U-shapedgrooves 26 therein for receiving and retaining a cigarette 28 in aposition overlying the tray 20 in spaced relation. A handle knob orspool 30 is mounted centrally of the strap by virtue of a fastener 32extending therethrough for provid ing a handle for manipulating the ashtray in a manner described hereinafter.

A vertically extending tubular member 34 extends through the funnel 20and the cover 14 with the lower end curving laterally and having alaterally opening discharge opening 36 communicating the tubular member34 with theash tray. The upper end of the tubularmember 34 terminatesflush with the inner surface of the funnel for facilitating entry ofcigarette buttsinto the tubular member. The discharge opening-has ahinge 38 at the upper edge thereof for pivotally supporting a door 40that has a weight 42 on the lower end and asealing gasket 44 on theinnerisurface for sealing engagement withthe edge of the dischargeopening, thereby retaining the receptacle in air tight condition therebypreventing combustion. within the receptacle and'preventing exit ofSmoke. and 1 fumes The, cigarette butts are discharged from the tubularmember 34 into the receptacle by grasping the handle and tilting theentire assembly to one side whereby the door 40 will swing outwardly dueto the weight 42 and the hingle 38 at the top edge. The entire cover 14may be removed for ease of dumping the contents of the receptacle.

It is understood that this invention is not confined to the particularembodiment shown and described, the same being merely illustrative, andthat this invention may be carried out in other ways within the scope ofthe appended claims without departing from the spirit of this invention,as it is obvious that the particular embodiment shown and described isonly one of the many that may be employed to attain the objects of thisinvention.

What I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent of theUnited States is:

l. A tiltable ash tray assembly comprising a normally, verticallyarranged receptacle having an open upper end, a cover of dome shapedconfiguration with depending flanges closing said open upper end of saidreceptacle, a tubular member having a circular horizontal top openingextending through the cover and terminating in a lower curved enddisposed wtihin the receptacle, a concave funnel-like member mounted onsaid cover with the upper end of the tubular member extending throughthe bottom of the funnel-like member and terminating flush with theinner surface thereof for receiving cigarette butts, said lower curvedend of the tubular member being curved laterally and including avertically disposed discharge outlet, a closure door pivotally mountedon the lower end of said tubular member by a hinge means, a weightmounted on the door and normally urging said door to a vertical closedposition, said hinge means being mounted upon said tubular memberadjacent the top of said vertical side outlet and pivotally mounting thedoor for swing movement in a vertical plane, said weight being disposedadjacent the bottom edge of the door and holding the door normallyclosed for holding cigarette butts in said tubular member as long assaid receptacle is in a vertical position, and said closure doorpivoting and remaining in a vertical position when said ash trayassembly is tilted from the vertical plane thereby allowing thecigarette butts to fall from said tubular member through the dischargeoutlet.

27 The ash tray assembly according to claim 1 wherein said receptaclehas a flat, circular bottom wall, the upper edge portion of saidreceptacle has locking means coopcrating with the lower edge portion ofsaid dome shaped cover, the upper edge of the funnel-like member isprovided with a diametrically extending strap, said-strap having a holemidway between its ends, and an upstanding handle rigidly secured tosaid strap by screw means extending through said hole therein and intosaid handle, said handle facilitating manipulation of said ash trayassembly off its flat bottom wall and to and from an inclined positionto permit the open end of said tubular member to move to and from saidweighted door while such door remains in a vertical plane.

3. An ash tray assembly comprising a receptacle having a cover closingthe upper end thereof, a tubular member extending through the cover andterminating in a nel-like member mounted on said cover with the upperend of the tubular member extending through the bottom of thefunnel-like member and terminating with the inner concave surfacethereof for receiving cigarette butts, a closure door pivotally mountedon the lower end of the tubular member, a weight being mounted on thedoor and normally urging said door to a closed position, said lower endof the tubular member curving laterally and includes a verticallydisposed discharge outlet, hinge means assembled to said tubular memberadjacent the top of said discharge outlet and pivotally mounting thedoor for swinging movement in a vertical plane, said weight beingdisposed adjacent the bottom edge of the door for holding the doornormally closed to retain cig- 4 I arette butts in said tubular memberwhen dropped therein and said receptacle is in a vertical position, andsaid door pivoting in a vertical plane when said receptacle assembly istilted from the vertical thereby allowing the cigarette butts to fallfrom said tubular member, said cover and funnel-like member beingrigidly secured to each other and removably attached to the upper end ofthe receptacle.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS D.113,417 Bennett et al. Feb. 21, 1939 1,908,279 Baylis May 9, 1933

